BP turns blind eye to llamas’ helping hair

Kim Hubbell carries clumps of hair shaved off the back of her llama Pooh Bear in this May 14 photo at her farm. Shipments of llama hair to the Gulf aren’t currently being used by BP for the cleanup, but members of the organization Matter of Trust are trying to convince BP to implement the hair for hair booms.

It was a clear sign, said his owner, Kim Hubbell, that he wasn’t particularly pleased with being shaved.

But two weeks ago he endured a 15-minute trim, and Kim, her husband, Pat, and their two children collected his hair and those of their five other llamas at their Lawrence home.

It was all for a good cause, and Pooh Bear’s hair — which could be stuffed into fabric to make “hair booms” to soak up oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill — would help his animal friends a thousand miles away.

Pooh Bear watched disinterestedly as Milena Hubbell, 5, demonstrated how his hair did a remarkable job of clumping up some motor oil collected from the Hubbells’ garage.

It was a cheap way to help. Across the nation, barbers, pet owners and farmers shipped hair to a national nonprofit organization, Matter of Trust.

But warehouses are filled with donated hair because BP is declining the supplies, said Lisa Gauthier, Matter of Trust president.

“It’s coming out the doors,” Gauthier said of the 19 warehouses where the hair is being stocked.

Gauthier is in New Orleans trying to convince BP to use the hair booms, but she said BP says they have plenty of synthetic booms to use in the cleanup efforts. It’s an argument she isn’t buying.

“Everybody’s going to need it,” she said. “What we want is BP to take it now.”

The situation has been frustrating for the Hubbells, who simply wanted to help with the cleanup.

Comments

no kidding, by taking it, whats it going to HURT? At this point, they should be taking any help they can get...going on what, 40 days now or something? Ridiculous. When I got my hairs cut last week, they said they were donating it, too. Bummer.

Let's see now...the hair from one llama would soak up maybe 1/4 barrel, 12-1/2 gallons of oil, and there's how many millions of barrels of oil spilling into the gulf??? So how many million llamas are going to have to be shaved to soak up, say 5% of the oil??? Get real.

I say they should start by trying to plug the leak with the carcases of BP Oil executives. At least that would have a positive effect on the situation, getting them out of the decision-making process.

I like the carcass idea! :) However, I think you're looking at the llama hair the wrong way. It's not just llamas; it's people hair, hair from grooming shops, etc. from all over the country that is being donated. Yes, the llama hair by itself isn't going to do much good, but combined with the other hairy donations, it may.

obviously BP hates animals as evidenced by their ongoing attempt to kill them with oil. of course they arent going to show weakness and accept gifts from the very animals that they are out to destroy. still a classy thing for that llama to do though. they always have been known to be one of the more generous animals out there.

Interesting idea - though I suppose it is the BP corporate mantra..."Why use something natural, when you can make a synthetic from good 'ol oil" Despite the former "green" image, BP has always tried to stomp out ethanol. Again, they'd hate to see something which can be made from corn, wood, or other waste products when they sell oil.

When I first saw the headline, I thought maybe they were using the hair for the 'junk shot' I guess that didn't go so well using ground up tires - which is not much of a surprise. But given the way hair can clog up a drain, seems to be the perfect thing to plug up a well!

one big solution isn't happening to solve one big problem...in a situation where every little bit would help, a thousand little bits might be a solution...all you cynics who ridicule someone tryng to help, you should maybe make a sacrifice and join the bp carcasses in the plug.